Volkswagen Ameo Expert Review

Introduction

Volkswagen seems to have gotten most of the things right with its debutante entrant in the compact sedan segment. The Ameo can easily outsell its rivals when it comes to features. Volkswagen has loaded it to the brim. Even mechanically it comes with one of the best engine and transmission options.

Pros

Most feature loaded vehicle in the segment with features such as cruise control, MirrorLink support and others.

110PS diesel engine is a powerhouse! Can be fun and frugal at the same time.

Solid build quality inside-out, similar to that of its siblings. The Polo and the Vento.

Cons

Relatively weak after sales network compared to competitors like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai.

The 1.2-litre petrol engine feels underpowered, especially on the highways.

The Ameo doesn't offer an automatic option with petrol, almost every other car in the segment offers a petrol automatic.

Cabin best suited for four occupants. Rear-seat legroom and headroom could have been better as well

Stand Out Features

Expandable boot space. With its first in segment single folding rear seat backrest you can easily store extra luggage on the go.

Segment-first dual-clutch automatic transmission with diesel, rest of the diesel automatics in the segment. The Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire and the Tata Zest come mated to an AMT gearbox.

Dual-front Airbags and ABS (anti-lock braking system) offered as standard. None of the vehicles in the segment offer this combination as standard

CarDekho Verdict

The Ameo is not a boot-pasted Polo. With the kind of built quality on offer along with potent engines under its hood, this sub-compact sedan from Volkswagen does stand out. Yes, it does reflect Polo’s identity but that again is not a bad thing at all.

"With a host of class leading features along with a mouth watering price tag, the Ameo makes for an amazing package. "

Considering its competitive price-point with regards to the several class-leading features on offer, it makes its own identity in this mass-runner segment. Ameo offers a solution to buyers who are looking to upgrade to a car that offers a premium look and feel at a price point that doesn’t put a big hole into their pockets.

Exterior

It is hard to differentiate between the Polo and the Ameo, especially if you’re looking at the front profile. Although, its sub-4m dimensions allows it to qualify for fewer taxes, makes the car look disproportionate from certain angles. The same applies to the entire segment the Ameo belongs to.

As mentioned above, the front is a carbon copy of the Polo hatchback and there's nothing you have not seen before. To begin with, it features dual-barrel halogen headlamps and multi-slat grille. The re-styled front bumper which was offered with the Polo facelift has been lifted and now is also featured in the Ameo. The bumper comes with a chrome strip which runs along its length and the fog lamps come with static cornering lights.

Like the front fascia, the side profile is also similar to the Polo, up until the C-pillar. Things start to differ after the C-pillar as the company has incorporated a boot. Furthermore, the production-spec Ameo features 15-inch alloy wheels, which are borrowed from the Polo — unlike the 16-inchers which were shown at the time of its debut.

Exterior Comparison

Maruti Swift Dzire

Volkswagen Ameo

Honda Amaze

Length (mm)

3995

3995

3990

Width (mm)

1735

1682

1680

Height (mm)

1515

1483

1505

Ground Clearance (mm)

163

163

165

Wheel Base (mm)

2450

2470

2405

Kerb Weight (kg)

895Kg

1069

955

The design is not a chop-job. VW has done a decent job of integrating the boot on the Polo profile.

Compact sedans do have a stubby boot and this in-turn makes them look disproportionately from certain angles. There are good and bad examples but no one has certainly perfected the art of incorporating a boot in restricted dimensions. The Ameo is no exception either!

On the brighter side, you do get an integrated spoiler and faux-LED graphics in the taillamps much like the Polo and the Vento.

Boot Space Comparison

Volkswagen Ameo

Maruti Swift Dzire

Honda Amaze

Volume

330 Ltrs

378-liters

400-litres

Interior

Sit inside and you just cannot differentiate among the three cars — the Polo, the Vento and the Ameo. Almost the entire feature list is same, along with dashboard layout.

The overall design of the dashboard is not as flamboyant as you find with its peers, but it feels like the dash is built to last. The Ameo has received the flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel with piano black inserts, which is also offered with the Polo and the Vento.

The Ameo's highlight is its new touchscreen infotainment system.

The Ameo’s highlight would be the new touchscreen infotainment system. Like any other of its kind, the system offers a host of connectivity options — Bluetooth connectivity, AUX-in, USB and also offers a screen for the reverse parking camera. Besides this, you even get segment-first MirrorLink support.

Speaking of the rear cabin, Volkswagen has used the Polo’s underpinnings and not the stretched version which the Vento uses.The space inside the Ameo is decent as compared to the Polo’s, which is not known of its rear legroom. However, Volkswagen has managed to make minor changes to the seat to make the rear of the car more accommodating than its hatch sibling .

Performance

1.2L Petrol

The Ameo will be powered by a 1.2-litre MPI naturally aspirated petrol and a 1.5-litre TDI turbo diesel. Transmission options include a standard 5-speed manual, while the diesel will also come with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission option.

The 1.2-litre unit in the Ameo churns out 75PS and 110Nm of peak torque, while the diesel is expected to put out 90PS and 230NM of max torque. The diesel powered Ameo’s specs have not been revealed by the automaker, however, it is said to get the updated 1.5-litre TDI oil burner. Initially, the German automaker has only introduced the 1.2-litre petrol.

Performance Comparison (Petrol)

Honda Amaze

Volkswagen Ameo

Maruti Swift Dzire

Power

86.7bhp@6000rpm

74bhp@5400rpm

82bhp@6000rpm

Torque (Nm)

109Nm@4500rpm

110Nm@3750rpm

113Nm@4200rpm

Engine Displacement (cc)

1198

1198

1197

Transmission

Manual

Manual

Manual

Top Speed (kmph)

160 Kmph

-

-

0-100 Acceleration (sec)

15 Seconds

-

12.6 Seconds

Kerb Weight (kg)

955kg

1069kg

895Kg

Fuel Efficiency (ARAI)

17.8kmpl

17.0kmpl

22.0kmpl

Power Weight Ratio

90.78534031413612 bhp/ton

69.22357343311505 bhp/ton

91.62011173184358 bhp/ton

This petrol engine doesn’t offer neck-snapping acceleration and frankly it’s not meant to do so either. However, it does offer a certain level of refinement but the low-end delivery is not as smooth as you would expect. It does require constant throttle inputs especially when you perform an overtaking manoeuvre or if you are at an incline.

Diesel

The diesel Ameo is poles apart compared to the petrol variant. Unlike the petrol Ameo that feels underpowered and lethargic, the diesel is quite a performer. The 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine gets an upgraded turbocharger, that has bumped its power up to 110PS, while peak torque is rated at 250Nm. There’s a hint of lag under 1500rpm, post which the Ameo diesel pins you to the back of your seat. Power delivery is seamless, and eggs you on to drive enthusiastically.

Performance Comparison (Diesel)

Volkswagen Ameo

Maruti Swift Dzire

Honda Amaze

Power

108.495bhp@4000rpm

74bhp@4000rpm

98.6bhp@3600rpm

Torque (Nm)

250Nm@1500-3000rpm

190Nm@2000rpm

200Nm@1750rpm

Engine Displacement (cc)

1498

1248

1498

Transmission

Manual

Manual

Manual

Top Speed (kmph)

-

-

170 Kmph

0-100 Acceleration (sec)

-

-

17 Seconds

Kerb Weight (kg)

1163kg

955Kg

1065kg

Fuel Efficiency (ARAI)

22.0kmpl

28.4kmpl

25.8kmpl

Power Weight Ratio

93.28890799656062 bhp/ton

77.4869109947644 bhp/ton

92.58215962441314 bhp/ton

The short-throw 5-speed manual does well to add to the experience, but the hard clutch does take some getting used to. We preferred the 7-speed DSG, for its butter-smooth shifts and its ability to change personas at the drop of a hat. Drive sedately, and the automatic transmission shifts up early aiding fuel-efficiency. Go throttle heavy or slot into Sports, and the gearbox holds the revs right up to the redline letting you exploit all of the 250Nm.

The cabin gets noisy at higher RPMs.

Although, once you put your foot-down on the accelerator pedal, the engine does open up post 3000rpm and all the way to the red line. But, in result, you get a noisy cabin as the engine sound increases gradually. On the good side, the manual gearbox is a delight offering smooth shifts. The clutch is also quite light and nimble but it’s not as light as a Hyundai or a Maruti product. Speaking of the fuel efficiency, the petrol gets an ARAI certified mileage of 17.83 km/l, while the diesel will return around 20-21 km/l.

Thanks to a solid built chassis, balance and handling of the Ameo is sublime. Like other Volkswagen cars, the ride quality is on the stiffer side, but that is something that Volkswagen audience accept quite happily.

Safety

Dual-front airbags along with ABS is part of the standard kit.

This is one of the areas where Volkswagen usually scores over its rivals in most of the segments. The Ameo is the only vehicle in its class to come with dual-front airbags along with ABS (anti-lock braking system) as standard. The diesel automatic also offers ESP (electronic stabilisation programme) and Hill-Hold Control. The Ameo is Volkswagen's first Made-for-India offering and will compete with the likes of the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, the Hyundai Xcent, the Honda Amaze, the Ford Figo Aspire, and the Tata Zest.

Following the footsteps of its other Volkswagen siblings, Ameo too gets three variants to choose from i.e Trendline (base), Comfortline and Highline (top). Now, even before you choose, do keep in mind that Volkswagen has packed all its variants with ABS and dual-airbags as standard.

Not like any other base variant of a car which is generally deprived of almost everything, Trendline gets a lot of features that are value for money. For starters, you get body coloured bumpers, door handles and mirrors as well. Step inside and you get a sporty flat bottom steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment, cup and bottle holders as well as a folding rear backseat as standard across all variants. But this is where its list of features come to a halt.

The Trendline offers the best value for your money.

To get access to more features one has to go for the upper Comfortline variant can be your best bet in-terms of the price point. In addition to the Trendline features, you now get a decent audio system with USB, AUX and Bluetooth support that also manages to sync your phonebook. On the outside, you now get dual-beam headlamps while there are a lot of additions inside the cabin as well. There is a dual-tone beige setup along with a fancy cooled glovebox feature. You also get a lot of first in segment features such as cruise control, one touch up-down power windows, key remote opening and closing of all windows.

To get a more premium feeling out of the Ameo, its Highline variant does the job well. In addition to both Trendline and Comfortline, Highline takes the feature list a notch-up. On the outside, the use of chrome is well highlighted along with 15-inch alloy wheels. You also get access to first-in-segment rain sensing wipers. Step inside and you get an additional central armrest along with automatic climate control feature. Use of leather and brushed aluminium further adds to the premium feel. The biggest addition inside is the newly appointed touchscreen infotainment system which comes with a reverse parking camera. Along with voice command feature you also get steering mounted audio controls.